One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

Scooping up a brush, I started for the door, but she didn’t miss a thing.

“It’s your injury.” I kept moving, and she was right behind me. “You never gave me a chance to tell you. I know massage therapy. If it’s muscular or nerve damage, I could probably help you.”

Massage therapy had been one of the most effective treatments before I’d gone on the meds. Still, I couldn’t think of anything more dangerous than her small hands touching my bare skin, relieving my pain.

“That’s okay. I’ll manage.” Pulling the stall door open, I moved Ranger to the side of his pen so I could quickly pull the brush over his coat.

When she spoke again, her voice was soothing, sexy. “Don’t be that way.” I kept my eyes on the brown and white horse in front of me, but I could hear her smile. “You’re clearly in pain. Won’t you let me help you?”

The way her voice rolled across my ears, low and sultry, tightened the muscles low in my stomach. Yesterday’s kiss blazed in my mind, but I fought it back with anger.

“I’m taking a few days’ rest.” My voice was sharp, but it was for the best. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you afraid?” Flashing a glare at her, I had to look twice. My anger hadn’t stopped her. She actually reached for my arm.

Everything froze when she touched me. This small, beautiful creature inserted herself between me and my horse, holding my arm and my gaze. She wasn’t going to run, and she wasn’t letting me go.

“What do you want, Mariska?” The muscle in my jaw tightened. I was too tired for fighting.

Another hand on my other arm, she held me against her body

and whispered. “I want you, silly.”

I moved my arms away and grasped her by the shoulders. She blinked as I shook her once. “I already told you. I’m leaving.”

“Take me with you.” Her hazel eyes burned into mine. Was she casting a spell on me? Take her with me? God dammit!

Loosening my grip on her, I stepped back, and a flare of pain shot through my hip. “Fuck!” I hissed, and she was right with me.

“Come on.” Her voice was patient yet insistent.

Lacing her fingers in mine, she pulled me toward the door. She took the brush from my hand and set it on top of the stall. Once we were out, she locked the pen. Our eyes didn’t meet as she caught my hand again, pulling me in the direction of the house. I didn’t fight her. Ron walked across the yard, but he didn’t acknowledge us. Patrick and Elaine were nowhere to be seen.

The sway of her poncho across her ass revealed she was wearing short denim cutoffs underneath. Her legs were smooth, and I followed the movement of her hair up the length of her back. I couldn’t tell if the poncho was a shirt or if there was more to her outfit.

She didn’t stop once we were in the house. She kept walking, leading me to the hall where Bill’s and my bedrooms were located.

“Which is your room?” she asked.

I wasn’t getting out of this easily. I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Taking the lead, I walked us to the third door on the right. It was a spacious bedroom with a bathroom attached. A small desk was just inside, and a recliner sat near a wall across from a medium-sized, flatscreen above a large dresser. Mariska was only interested in the king-sized bed in the far corner.

She turned to me and pulled my shirt out of my jeans. “You don’t have to take off everything. Just strip down to your boxers.”

Her hands fascinated me as she unbuttoned my shirt. They were slim but strong, and several needs I’d put on hold for a long time sprung to attention.

“I need a shower.” My voice was thick.

Sunset eyes flickered up to mine, and I wanted to kiss her again. “You can shower when I’m done. Or you can sleep and shower tonight.”

“I don’t sleep during the day.”

“When I’m finished, you’ll want to rest.”

One of my eyebrows arched, and I couldn’t stop a grin. “That sounds highly unlikely.”

“This is therapy, Mister Knight.” Her eyes slanted, but I caught the gleam there. “I’m a professional.”

“Are you licensed?”